The Effects of Encapsulated Probiotics on Enteric Methane Emission and in Vitro Nutrient Digestibility

Abstract

Methane, as a greenhouse gas, hasclimatic impacts.It it is responsiblefor almost about 2 – 12% losses of the gross energy that consumed by ruminants, so that methane affects feed utilization and animal productivity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics and encapsulatedprobiotics on enteric methane production and the in vitro nutrient digestibility in ruminants. The study took place at the Research Center for Biotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia In vitro analysis was done using a group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The experiments were conducted in 3x4 block design with three dietary treatments (T0= control diet, T1 (control diet + probiotics addition), and T2 (control + encapsulated probiotics addition) and four replicates. Each replicate was performed at a different week. The experimental diets were incubated in the in vitro rumen fermentation system for 72 hours. Parameters observed were pH, total gas production, methane concentration, total volatile fatty acids, NH3 and the in vitro dry and organic matter digestibility (IVDMD and IVOMD, respectively). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and continued with the Duncan multiple range test to compare among the different treatment means. Results showed that both the probiotics and the encapsulated probiotics decreased (P<0,05) methane concentration by 6,1% and 33,1% in comparison with the control diet, respectively. Furthermore, these probiotics and encapsulated probiotics increased (P<0.05) total gas production by 15,7% and 233% than that of control, respectively. The TFVAs, IVDMD, IVOMD, and NH3 values of the diet supplemented with probiotics were higher as compared to the encapsulated probiotics (P<0,05). In conclusion, both the probiotics and the encapsulated probiotics are effective in mitigating the in vitro methane production at simultaneously enhance gas production.Despite the effectiveness of encapsulation on mitigating methane emission, the nutrient digestibility is still limited. Therefore, in vivo study is strongly recommended to be studied for the final conclusion.

Keywords: encapsulation,in vitro rumen, methane, probiotics, ruminants.